Why not make it unlawful for doctors and hospitals to reveal the sex of the baby in countries where "gentricide" is rampant. Determining the sex of the baby is only one of the many uses of an ultrasound during pregnancy. What matters most is that both baby and mother are healthy. Penalize the hospitals that still produce unnatural results and suspend licenses of physicians who are caught revealing such information.

As a westerner I assume that equality (not only gender equality, but also class, age, race, religion equality) is what we should all aim for. But maybe I'm wrong... Many people think that the cast system is OK, maybe even racism is OK as long as you dress it up in "traditional values" (that prevent inter-marriage, access to power or upward social mobility of certain groups, or as nationalism). Why would I be right and they be wrong?

Why do we assume that our values are "better"? I would never accept to live in a society based on cast, or in one where women are discriminated against, or in one where basic human rights are lacking. But that's me. Maybe the ones who decide that gendercide is a solution are very happy in that kind of society. Moreover, they may even look down at me (maybe they have more money, which in their minds is how you keep the score)...

OK, I don't know who's right and who's wrong. One thing I know: if we cannot stay separate (globalization...), they'd better change, because I'll die before I put a burka on my daughter and see her having sonograms in order to make a "rational" decision about the future of her pregnancies, not to endanger her cast status.

I've always been undecided on whether to be pro-choice or pro-life. After reading this week's cover story, I'm now solidly pro-life. What's happening to baby girls in Asia is unacceptable and it looks like the international community has been turning a blind eye to such injustices for decades because of an addiction to cheap Asian goods.

African countries have some of the lowest male to female ratios at birth in the world but of course that's not newsworthy.

In northern India, women are responsible for killing would-be girls, or go on producing girls until they get a son. They take more care of sons than the girls. In all the three ways, it is women against girls. Desire to have a property inheritor is not the reason, as even very poor women having no wealth and properties behave the same way.
This is the condition when daughters provide better care to parents than the sons. I consider this as a psychological disorder in women of north India.

The long term results of so called gendercide (is it really gendercide if you're aborting a foetus?)are more or less widely known in China, and most people I've talked to in China agree that its not a sustainible practice. Suicide rates amongst college educated Chinese young men have dramatically increased the last decade partly due to their inability to establish families because of the shortage of girls. Unfortunately changing cultural values remains difficult at best, I wonder if having the (PRC) government give tax incentives to families to have daughters would be step in balancing gender numbers.
Then again, less families in this generation implies less babies being born for later generations which means that eventually the numbers will even out naturally. Who knows for how long that 'eventually' will be though.

This is shocking indeed. Congratulations for highlighting this horrendous form of discrimination against girl children on this International Women's Day. I was especially shocked to read the book review on page 84 of the print edition when it refers to the author watching a newborn baby girl being snatched from its mother and killed in front of her in rural China. But in the lead, I was disappointed to read that the Ecomonist's view is that abortion should be 'safe rare and legal'. This is talking out of both sides of your mouth. Either a child has the right to life or not. And quoting Clinton - the man who vetoed the ban on partial birth abortion, the most violent form of abortion?

The main reason why the girl child is discriminated against, is perhaps, because she does leave the family of her father, to join another family. For property laws to create less discord, the property needs to be distributed in such a way, that there is less difference of interest between the inheritors. I, personally, would prefer a girl child, if I had a child, but the issues in India, run deep.I cannot fathom the reason why a male child is preferred, but there are many reasons given. A woman marries outside the clan of her father, normally. The husband is not supposed to offer any help to his father-in-law, this is a loss of face to the father of the bride. Also, in Hindu rites of marriage, the father gives up his daughter as an offering to the family of her husband. He has no say over any matter of his daughter, thereafter. It is also believed, that the daughter becomes more partial towards her husband, and his family, than towards the interests of her father. The whole concept of a Hindu Marriage, is based on certain perceptions. It is very easy for a westerner to want to change perceptions.

Alreadyinuse:
Here you go, check this site. I don't know where you got your data from or what the percentage each province is of the total population and I doubt you care.
But look at this site:http://chartsbin.com/view/qvr
1.06 m/f for both countries.

Seems that China and India are the same to me!
That means a comparison is helpful!
Thank YOU!

In some Chinese provinces, there are more than 130 guys for every 100 chics. Eek! At least in Kenya we have a natural male to female ratio of 102 to 100 at birth according to The CIA World Factbook which is proof that we love our women. So much for women-starved Asian "tigers".

Re: China and India's skewed excess male trend self-correcting potential ala South Korea...yes it is possible. But only if this issue is allowed to be addressed openly and therefore get "corrected". Understandably, in any given society with a shortage of a certain crucial "commodity", they would keep really quiet so as not to "run up the price". The long term consequence could be hard to repair...

And I resonate with your last paragraph "And for those who see problems with female foeticide as being symbolic of the 'barbarity' of Asian countries vs the 'civilized' state of their own societies, I would submit that you have no real interest in this article or problem, but are just happy to get an opportunity to vent against those you feel increasingly threatened by and inferior to"

It's entertaining to see the usual misogynists anti-abortionist and anti-western types froth as they would. Of course China or India do not have monopoly over "barbaric practice" against the females and children. Just because they keep their slaves alive doesn't mean the slaves are living in paradise. The West too have their own child-devouring paedophile fathers and mothers in their backyard. But "The West" are at least not hiding these human crimes. Female devaluation is indeed a big problem in China and India problem so good thing it is being addressed now and gets a chance of being dealt with BEFORE IT GETS WORSE.

@ Alreadyinuse:
The linked article, the case of Chinnathayye is sign of hope indeed: a mother who resist the pressure of her IN-LAW (which means a MOTHER in law) to kill/discard her twin girls. A confident mother who loves herself AS A WOMAN would have some hope for her daughter's future and won't drown her baby daughter to death in milk in the name of sparing her a life of misery. So it is about empowering the mother. A happy, confident mother would likely keep and bring up a happy daughter.

@ east wind - stop frothing at the mouth over there and twisting words out of context. If you even half care about Zhang Ziyi's happiness, you would've grasp the essense of the billionaire reference. Zhang Ziyi is one lucky China girl who happens to have a caring, confident, loving, nurturing mother and that's why not only she shines bright, she seeks her mother's green light in her date. In this case, the date is a billionaire. Another famous positive mother daughter relationship in Asia is pop singer Ayumi of Japan. She is known to greenlight her mother to date her ex-boyfriend. Pretty progressive development. Chinese Malaysian Michele Yeoh also credits her success and confidence to her mother. These strong female-protecting Chinese mothers are the exact opposite of the mothers who cull their own, who pass on their self-hatred and self-destructiveness.

We need more loving Chinese and Indian mothers. Confident and happy women are more generous towards their female off-springs.

Two India province with relatively normal gender ratio is Kerala and Pondicherry. The women are modern and independent - and the mothers ensure their daughters get high education and pair up with husbands who deserve her.

One common trait of Chinese and Indian daughters with nurturing mothers is, they tend to have INNATE CONFIDENCE and marry outside their country, to males of higher income and education but more specifically - MEN WHO CHERISH AND RESPECT THEM BETTER.

It's a good thing this is being discussed openly. People need to be prepared for reality of wife shortage. The son-obsessed parents of Asia are in for a rude shock when they realize their sons are more family liability than asset in the near future. The older males would understandably be in denial for a long time. But time does not wait for the younger male bare branches. Time to work on his eligibility. Time to halt the uterus drain...nicely, sweetly, meaningfully, perhaps?

one-child policy in china makes me lonely...
the sadest thing is that in developed cities in china, families who are able to raise more than one child cannot do so because of the policy...however, in the villages where people are undereducated the policy has never taken effect... to some extent that's why the poor becomes poorer... the parents are undereducated and they just want more labors, never think about whether they can be responsible for their offsprings' life and education...

"1. urbanization and education does NOT automatically solve the problem. THE MORE URBANIZED AND EDUCATED THESE CULTURES, the MORE MISSING GIRLS."

I think the main emphasis in that point needs to be on 'automatically'. Please remember that the male child preference ingrained in a number of developing countries has been developed over mellenia of being agrarian economies, when having boys was economically more benefecial. A lot of these countries are modernizing very rapidly, with a lot of families just 1 or 2 generations out of the farm. Changing mindsets requires longer.

Korea's case seems to be particularly instructive. Development seems to have initially worsened the trait by a) limiting family sizes thereby increasing the preference that the few children be male, and b) providing access to modern medical options. But given time that trend seems to have self corrected. I would think that the reason for this is that a few generations into an industrialized economy, the parity of male and female progeny has become evident, which has changed mindsets. As has the essentially joyless nature of any society that is short of girl children.

Given time and continued development there is no reason to imagine why India, China and the rest would not go down this path as well.

In the meantime there is no doubt that the skewed sex ratio in these countries is going to cause a lot of pain for the generations being afflicted. Anyone remember the multitude of European spinsters in the wake of the world wars? Lots of sad lonely lives, but which eventually got balanced in the coming generations.

For those who consider the imbalance in China to be an indictment of the one child policy, I would say that the problem is in the mindset of the people who decided to make their one child a boy, not the policy. That policy, however harsh and draconian, has been one of the biggest factors in China's rise.

And for those who see problems with female foeticide as being symbolic of the 'barbarity' of Asian countries vs the 'civilized' state of their own societies, I would submit that you have no real interest in this article or problem, but are just happy to get an opportunity to vent against those you feel increasingly threatened by and inferior to.

@LadyJustice: You say, “The problem lies in a DYSFUNCTIONAL TRADITION WHICH STUBBORNLY UNDERVALUE THE FEMALES.” Female infanticide, at least in India appears to be a modern phenomenon, which got aggravated in the 1990s. This is not a tradition. Female infanticide, heinous as it is, seems to have been restricted to small pockets of extreme poverty, rather than represent a widespread practice. While I have not fully researched to support this contention, some evidence that supports this can be found at http://www.rediff.com/news/2001/oct/24spec.htm

@indica: I agree with the sentiments expressed in your post. I do not feel dishonoured by The Economist, but cheated with particular reference to this article. My cursory research has shown that at least in India, the Government has been seized of the issues and has taken steps to confront the issue with measurable success as shown in the links above. I have not bothered researching this for China, but, I have no doubt that the Government in China would also have addressed the issue.

The Economist has not only presented poorly researched data to support its ill-formed conclusions, it has also not bothered presenting the remedial actions being taken by the Governments concerned. This is unacceptable from a magazine of the stature of The Economist, particularly, when much of this data exists in the public domain. That it has done so, in the event, can only be ascribed to motives that may not be entirely honourable. So if anybody should feel dishonoured, it should be this magazine!

...These “quick fixes” are feasible if we just let the market force do its job and by according them with social respectability and legality.

(1). “Import” mail order brides from overseas, as was done in the US frontier times and is still popular today in Taiwan.

(2). “Export” able bodied single males to overseas to enter uxorilocal marriage (to become a son-in-law who lives in the wife's home and assumes the role of a son, a common practice of the Zhuang nationality in the West Guangxi).
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It seems the importing of wives or exporting of excess males have been taking place organically so additional policy push isn't necessary in this direction. Males from surplus male country with higher income and mobility and have and will outsource. In ancient/primitive time it is done through wars and today, economic imperialism. However as you said this is a quick band aid which does not stop the dwindling local female pop problem.

As to the "uxorilocal" solution, the question remains, in a world with 1 Asian female for every 2 or 3 Asian males, it's unlikely daughter's family wish to take on such burden of raising someone else's son. Why contract a future son in law when your daughter will fetch more and more on the open market tomorrow. Training one's sons to be respectful and loving to his female peers, lowering their expectations, deconstructing male-centric media propaganda, grooming them to be "model hubby", saving up a handsome dowry to increase son's eligibility seem far more realistic...in the short run...

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@ east wind - my opinion are as biased as your opinion. The difference is whatever I presented is based in solid research numbers and facts while yours are mere broad generalized and totally subjective conjecture. No doubt there are some smarter Chinese parents who have noticed how much their Zhang Ziyi's will fetch in the Billionaire market overseas and are grooming them and protecting their sense of self-worth. But for every Asian female who found her true match in "free market" worth, there are 9 or 99 who remain undervalued by their own fathers and mothers.

At the rate this female culling and "uterus drain" is denied, smokescreened, and thus allowed to continue in Asia, Chinese and Indian (and by close association the South East Asian IndoChinese) women will be super hot commodity in the international marriage market. It's been taking place quietly regardless but the sex gap trend will accelerate as the now teenage bare branches enter the mating/marrying age. The trend will not affect only China or India or SEA, but worldwide, people will experience a shortage of women of marrying age. Or perhaps, women of ANY age.

The world of tomorrow will have overall shortage of women, white, black, latin - but especially ASIAN. The tight squeeze will be experienced more in the east than west (exception is Asian currency become stronger than western currency) It's time to prepare and soft-land the masses for this eventuality.

Denial of the female shortage problem only only makes it worse for everyone. Legalization of prostitution could only solve the problem in the short term. Border control of mind control will only lead to more local female suicides. Legitimization of polyandry, open social debate, mass media education, allowing female-friendly religion and philosophy to flourish are among the more peaceful and long term solution.

It is ironic that Daoism, actually place woman as the more evolved one of the two sexes. Respect of the feminine is not all lost in China, and comes through movies like Ip Man featuring Donnie Yen.

There is a correlation between built-in female-culling mindset in any cultural system which have devolve to excess materialism. Until these "traditional" cultures realize the soul of a woman or a daughter is worth more than some retirement fund or dowry, there will many trees with no leaves, no fruits, just bare branches. Not a very pretty landscape is it...

Please use 'sex' for 'sex' and 'gender' for 'gender'. To confuse the two terms and/or to use 'gender' for sex is to fall into the feminist black hole of totalitarian double speak. Women's Studies nonsense notwithstanding, sex is biologically determined, while gender is socially constructed...and since you are talking about in vitro murder...it's ridiculous to talk about 'gender'-cide before gender is even created.

Please spare us absurd characterizations like gender-'cide' unless you are logically consistent, balanced and thoughtful. Ironically, the very reproductive right that women scream for so shrilly (and yet refuse men) is one that leads to homicide (note the millions of missing boys and girls in Western nations where abortion is legal), and is one that, now, thanks to technology, is used to sex-select girls for in vitro murder. Your silence on the abortion-related human homicide while politically correct is absurd. Were you to report on sexicide you'd also need to cover the murder of far more men than women in war or ethnic cleansing, especially where military draft policies permit one sex (female) to legally rape the other sex (male) for security. Abortion as a form of murder (whatever politically correct people say otherwise) will become increasing problematic as progressive technologies allow ever more criteria for selection. Pretty soon, we'll be hear the Economist shout 'intelligencide' or whatever with no deeper analysis of the ethical dilemmas we face for relying on abortion so casually.

One more request: please spare us quotes from totalitarian mass murderers (see Worse Than War by Goldhagen) such as Mao, to prop up new reverse-sexist moral crusades. Women do not, yet, hold up anywhere near half the sky...they just steal half the rights that men provide for humankind with rare exceptions. Spare us feminist nonsense, consider both sexes and address the whole human question when you write stories about sex and/or gender.

China can fight off this preference for male child by assuring that the parents will be taken care off in the old age regardless whether their child is a girl or a boy. Based on past experience, many old people especially in the countryside are left destitute when they have no son to look after them in their old age. Other than the very difficult task of changing the cultural norm to a Matriarchal society, more social spending and pension funds will definitely help to change the current social behaviours.